Japan asks court to dissolve 'Moonies' church over Shinzo Abe killing:
The legal move follows a year-long investigation into the so-called 'Moonies' church.
bbc.com/news/world-asia-66704255
Photo: bbc.com · view article
Japan seeks Unification Church dissolution after Abe killingThe application follows a year-long investigation; if granted, tax benefits would end, but the church could continue operating.
- Japan’s Religious Corporations Law permits dissolution when an organisation’s actions are clearly substantially detrimental to public welfare.
- Tetsuya Yamagami said the church bankrupted his mother through forced donations and blamed Abe for promoting it.
- Lawyers for members say complainants lost at least 5.4 billion yen through forced donations during the past five years.
- An LDP inquiry found 179 of 379 lawmakers had interacted with the church; Kishida subsequently ordered ties to be severed.
"taking seriously" accusations that the church had exploited its followers for money.— Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, after ordering an investigation into the Unification Church and saying he was taking the accusations seriously.
Story Details
| Last Updated | |
| Total Articles | 41 |
Main Topics
News on this topic
Japan seeks to revoke the Unification Church's legal status after Abe killing: Japan's government has asked a court to remove the legal standing and tax breaks ...
npr.org/2023/10/13/1205691881/japan-unification-church-legal-status-shinzo-abe
Unification Church slams Japan's dissolution request as a threat to religious freedom
pbs.org/newshour/world/unification-church-slams-japans-dissolution-request-as-a-threat-to-religious-freedom
Japan asks court to dissolve 'Moonies' church over Shinzo Abe killing: The legal move follows a year-long investigation into the so-called 'Moonies' church.
bbc.com/news/world-asia-66704255
More articles on this subject
Previous
Japan's government asks court to revoke religious status of Unification Church: Japan’s government has asked a court to revoke the legal status of the ...
abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/japans-government-asks-court-revoke-legal-religious-status-103948515
Japan to ask court to strip Unification Church of religious status: Japan's government on Thursday said it will ask a court to strip the Unification Church of ...
reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-ask-court-strip-unification-church-religious-status-2023-10-12/
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/LSL4T64FKNIMDF37U3XEQC7TKU.jpg)
lemde.fr Oct 15 23
Japanese government seeks to dissolve Unification Church: The assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 revealed ties between elected members of ...
lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/10/15/japanese-government-seeks-to-dissolve-unification-church_6175310_4.html
Japan’s Government Will Seek to Revoke Legal Status of Unification Church: Decades of cozy ties between the church and Japan’s ruling party, revealed in the ...
thediplomat.com/2023/10/japans-government-will-seek-to-revoke-legal-status-of-unification-church/
Japan Wants to Abolish the Moon Church After Shinzo Abe Assassination: An investigation found that the church illegally took tens of millions of dollars in life ...
thedailybeast.com/japan-wants-to-abolish-the-moon-church-after-shinzo-abe-assassination
Paid articlePaywall
Editorial: As Japan gov't asks court to dissolve Unification Church, victims need support - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231013/p2a/00m/0op/016000c
Japanese govt to seek court order to dissolve Unification Church: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last year ordered a government probe into the sect after it ...
thejakartapost.com/world/2023/10/12/japanese-govt-to-seek-court-order-to-dissolve-unification-church.html
Scandal-hit Hamaoka nuclear power plant operator execs to resign: sources: Chubu Electric Power Co President Kingo Hayashi intends to resign over the utility's ...
japantoday.com/category/national/japan&
Tokyo District Court Accepts Govt Request to Dissolve Scandal-plagued Unification Church
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20231013-142711/
Dissolution Order for Unification Church: Organization’s Antisocial Activities Unaccepted / Eligibility of Religious Corporation Questioned
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20231013-142887/
Japan Asks Court to Dissolve Church Cited in Abe Shooting: Japan’s government asked a court to order the dissolution of a fringe religious group whose activities ...
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-13/japan-asks-court-to-dissolve-church-cited-in-abe-shooting
Japan asks court to strip Unification Church's official status: It had emerged that Shinzo Abe's alleged killer was motivated by resentment against the church.
freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2023/10/13/japan-asks-court-to-strip-unification-churchs-official-status/
Japanese government to ask court to revoke legal status of Unification Church: The Japanese government on Thursday, (Oct 12), said that it would ask the court to ...
wionews.com/world/japanese-government-to-ask-court-to-revoke-legal-status-of-unification-church-646101
Japan requests revocation of Unification Church's corporate status: TOKYO -- Japan's Culture Ministry on Friday submitted a request to the Tokyo District ...
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Japan-requests-revocation-of-Unification-Church-s-corporate-status
Japan seeks dissolution of scandal-hit Unification Church: TOKYO -- Japan's government announced on Thursday its decision to request a court order to ...
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Japan-seeks-dissolution-of-scandal-hit-Unification-Church
Japanese govt to seek court order to dissolve controversial Unification Church: The Japanese government said on Thursday it will seek a court order to dissolve ...
english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/10/12/Japanese-govt-to-seek-court-order-to-dissolve-controversial-Unification-Church
Japan to Seek Dissolution of Church Cited in Abe’s Killing: Japan’s government will ask a court to order the disbandment of the fringe religious group whose ...
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-12/japan-to-seek-dissolution-of-church-cited-in-abe-s-killing
Japan decides to strip Unification Church's religious corporation status: The Japanese government decided Thursday to seek a court order to strip the ...
japantoday.com/category/national/Japan-decides-to-strip-Unification-Church&
Japan Seeks to Dissolve Unification Church Connected to Shinzo Abe’s Assassination
time.com/6322931/japan-unification-church-disbandment-shinzo-abe/
Japan Govt Decides to Seek Court-ordered Dissolution of Unification Church (Update 1)
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20231012-142554/
CNA Oct 12 23
Japanese government to seek court order to dissolve Unification Church: TOKYO: The Japanese government said on Thursday (Oct 12) it will seek a court order to ...
channelnewsasia.com/asia/japan-government-court-dissolve-unification-church-shinzo-abe-assassination-3840111
Japan seeks dissolution of Unification Church: TOKYO -- Japan's government announced on Thursday its decision to request a court order to dissolve the ...
asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Japan-seeks-dissolution-of-Unification-Church
Japan gov't set to seek court order to dissolve Unification Church - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231012/p2g/00m/0na/024000c
Next
Similar to This
Previous
The Korea Times Aug 31
Unification Church leader sentenced to 2-year prison term in bribery case: A Seoul district court on Monday sentenced Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja to two ...
koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20260831/unification-church-leader-sentenced-to-2-year-prison-term-in-bribery-case
4 yrs after PM Abe's assassination, Japan reflects as Unification Church faces dissolution - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260709/p2a/00m/0na/025000c
The Korea Times Mar 05
Japan court dissolves Unification Church; Korea branch could face financial strain
koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20260305/japan-court-dissolves-unification-church-korea-branch-could-face-financial-strain
OpinionHow Shinzo Abe’s Assassination Brought the Moonies Back Into the Limelight: A shocking act of political violence exposed the cult’s deep influence, E ...
newyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/02/how-shinzo-abes-assassination-brought-the-moonies-back-into-the-limelight
Japan ex-PM Abe mentioned 500 times in Unification Church document - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260126/p2a/00m/0na/011000c
OpinionHow Shinzo Abe’s Assassination Brought the Moonies Back Into the Limelight: A shocking act of political violence exposed the cult’s deep influence, E ...
newyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/02/how-shinzo-abes-assassination-brought-the-moonies-back-into-the-limelight
How the gunshot that killed Shinzo Abe put Moonies on a downward spiral: Legal issues in Japan, South Korea plus schisms in North America spell trouble for once ...
theglobeandmail.com/world/article-moonies-unification-church-shinzo-abe-japan-south-korea/
Paid articlePaywall Head of Unification Church's Japan branch steps down, expresses apology - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20251209/p2g/00m/0na/026000c
Ex-PM Abe shooter says he dreaded Unification Church gaining recognition - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20251202/p2g/00m/0na/037000c
Abe murder suspect explains how church drained his life | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
asahi.com/ajw/articles/16173379
Accused Abe assassin testifies in court for first time: The man standing trial for the 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke in ...
japantoday.com/category/crime/update1-shooter-of-ex-pm-abe-addresses-mother&
‘I should not have lived this long,’ man accused of killing Abe tells court: Describing his troubled upbringing and the misery caused by his mother’s devotion to ...
japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/21/japan/crime-legal/yamagami-speaks-first-time/
Abe assassin's mother tells court of 'call from God,' huge donations after misfortunes - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20251114/p2a/00m/0na/020000c
Shinzo Abe Killer’s Trial Is Exposing the Christian Cult Entrenched in Japanese Politics
theintercept.com/2025/10/29/japan-shinzo-abe-assassination-trial-unification-church-moon/
A son's anger and a mother's faith: The family history behind the Abe shooting suspect - The Mainichi
mainichi.jp/english/articles/20251021/p2a/00m/0na/012000c
The leader of the cult-like Moonies is engulfed in scandal: Han Hak-ja, the “True Mother” of the controversial Unification Church, faces bribery charges in South ...
economist.com/asia/2025/10/17/the-leader-of-the-cult-like-moonies-is-engulfed-in-scandal
Paid articlePaywall
Japanese court orders Unification Church to pay US$340,000 to 3 over donations scam
scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327704/japanese-court-orders-unification-church-pay-us340000-3-over-donations-scam
Unification Church leader arrested in bribery case involving former South Korean president’s wife
edition.cnn.com/2025/09/22/asia/unification-church-leader-arrested-bribery-case-south-korea-intl-hnk
Key FactsUnification Church Leader Detained in Major Bribery Probe
Sep 23, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cnn.com
- Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church, was arrested in Seoul over alleged bribery involving former President Yoon's wife and a conservative legislator.
- The court cited risk of evidence tampering and ordered Han held at a detention center pending further investigation.
- The church condemned the arrest attempt and denied accusations, emphasizing their leader's respected status despite health concerns.
- The probe is among several special investigations into former President Yoon’s administration amid multiple legal challenges.
The Unification Church criticized investigators’ attempt to arrest Han, noting that she appeared for questioning last week while still recovering from a heart procedure earlier this month.— The Unification Church comments on the attempts to arrest its leader.
Tokyo court orders dissolution of ‘Moonies’ Unification church: Assassination of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe spurred official request for closure of South ...
theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/25/tokyo-court-orders-dissolution-of-moonies-unification-church
Key FactsTokyo court orders Unification Church dissolved
Mar 25, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: independent.co.uk
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: independent.co.uk
- After 18 months of closed hearings, Judge Kenya Suzuki deemed dissolution necessary and inevitable despite considering religious freedom.
- The ordered revocation of legal status ends the church’s tax exemption in Japan and forces liquidation of its assets.
- The education ministry submitted nearly 5,000 evidentiary documents based on interviews with more than 170 people.
- The church is considering an immediate appeal, called the verdict unfair, and described it as a major shakeup for religions in Japan.
The order was necessary and inevitable.— Judge Kenya Suzuki, presiding judge at the Tokyo District Court, on the ruling to dissolve the Unification Church.
Next